Lucid Reveals 2026 Software Roadmap After Engineering Explained’s Viral Complaint

After a million people watched Jason Fenske document his frustrating Lucid Air ownership experience, Lucid didn’t just apologize. They gave the Engineering Explained host an insider preview of their entire 2026 recovery plan.

The reveal includes UX 3.0, a complete user interface overhaul coming in early fall 2026, plus vehicle-to-home backup power that doesn’t require expensive home equipment. For current Lucid owners and prospective buyers watching from the sidelines, this is the clearest picture yet of whether Lucid can fix its software reputation.

Lucid’s Leadership Shakeup

About a month before Fenske’s original complaint video dropped, Lucid announced a significant organizational change. Immod Dala, who previously led Powertrain engineering, now oversees all of product development, including software.

Dala is one of the engineers behind Lucid’s industry-leading power-dense electric motors and holds a PhD from Finland with academic work on electromagnetic modeling. Fenske, who has met Dala multiple times, described him as someone who makes even experienced engineers realize how much they don’t know about electric motors.

In response to Fenske’s video, Lucid told him directly: “It’s fair to say we’re not happy with where we’ve been and we know we have to do better as well. And so we’re hard at work at that.”

What Lucid Has Already Fixed

Three issues from Fenske’s original complaint have already been addressed:

Over-the-air updates: Some cars, including Fenske’s, couldn’t properly load software updates. Lucid fixed the issue, and his car now updates without problems.

Plug and Charge: Fenske’s first attempt at using Plug and Charge at an Electrify America station failed. Lucid issued a cloud update, and the feature now works.

Phantom heated seats: Fenske’s dog would sit in the back seat, and the heated seat would mysteriously activate. Many commenters assumed the dog was pressing the button, but Lucid confirmed that wasn’t the case. An automatic climate control setting activates heated seats when it detects an occupant. Disabling this setting solved the problem.

Hardware Issues: Lucid’s Honest Explanation

Fenske’s frunk couldn’t open reliably, and he complained this should have been caught at the factory. Lucid explained this is actually a common problem tied to their unique front-end design.

The car might leave the Arizona factory with everything working perfectly, but components settle over time. Temperature differences between Arizona’s heat and colder climates can cause small shifts in where strikers sit, preventing the frunk from opening. Lucid readily admits this is an engineering challenge they need to solve. They adjusted Fenske’s striker, and it now opens every time.

The cup holders drew particular attention. Fenske measured nearly 9 pounds of force required to remove an empty can. To his surprise, all three Lucid employees on his call agreed: the cup holders are poorly designed. They’re changing the design, removing the baffles, with new versions rolling out in the first half of 2026. A retrofit option will be available for existing customers, and Lucid offered to send Fenske an early version for feedback.

Software Fixes in the Pipeline

Beyond the three issues already fixed, Lucid shared a list of improvements in active development:

• Improving phone-as-key access controls
• Improving door handle behavior
• Adjusting mirror positions during reversing
• Removing the mismatch between percentage vs. miles display
• Allowing users to prevent automatic locking at specific geo locations
• Enabling Plug and Charge with Tesla Superchargers for Lucid Air customers

Lucid also launched a dedicated feedback channel: swfeedback@lucidmotors.com. A team compiles these submissions to guide priorities, and Dala receives a summary every week.

UX 3.0: Complete Interface Overhaul Coming Fall 2026

The biggest reveal is UX 3.0, a complete overhaul of Lucid’s user experience software planned for early fall 2026.

Eligibility is important for current owners to understand. UX 3.0 will be available to anyone who purchased or leased after April 2024, or anyone who upgrades their infotainment processor to Lucid’s second-generation unit for $950 at Lucid Service.

UX 3.0 features include:

• Multitasking: Use both screens for separate functions
• Quick controls menu: Frequently-used buttons at the bottom of the screen
• Improved CarPlay and Bluetooth consistency
• Faster profile switching: Target of 8 seconds or fewer, down from 10+ seconds currently
• Audio stability improvements: Addressing speaker cutouts during driving
• Voice command improvements

Lucid has already made one voice command fix after watching Fenske’s original video. Previously, asking the voice assistant to open the glove box produced the response: “I can’t open the glove box for you, but you can do it by pulling the handle.” The problem: there is no handle. Now the system provides accurate instructions for using the touchscreen to open it.

Vehicle-to-Home Power: No Expensive Inverter Required

Lucid plans to release their vehicle-to-home kit in the first half of 2026. The system can supply up to 17 kW peak or 14 kW continuous to a home, enough to power air conditioning, refrigerators, and all typical household loads.

For context, Fenske’s Lucid Air Touring has a 92 kWh battery pack. His household uses an average of 21 kWh per day including EV charging. That means the Lucid could provide approximately four full days of electricity without any conservation, or easily a week or two running only essentials.

The key differentiator from competitors: unlike Ford’s F-150 Lightning, Lucid owners won’t need to install an expensive home inverter. Lucid converts DC to AC inside the car itself. Owners will still need a kit to connect to their home’s electrical panel, but the total cost should be significantly lower than competitive offerings.

What Won’t Change: Profile Switching While Driving

Fenske’s biggest complaint was the inability to switch driver profiles while driving. But as he explained, the core problem is actually profile detection, not in-motion switching.

The Lucid Air uses Bluetooth Low Energy for phone key detection. Whichever phone is detected first unlocks the car and selects that profile. With two people approaching, it’s essentially random which profile loads.

The Lucid Gravity solves this with ultra-wideband technology that can accurately determine phone direction and distance, plus a face scanner with updated mounting for clear driver recognition. Profile switching shouldn’t be an issue on the Gravity.

For the Air, Lucid claimed you can’t switch profiles while driving for legal safety reasons and can’t maintain navigation during a switch due to privacy requirements. They said competitors generally have similar limitations.

Fenske tested this claim in a 2025 Tesla Model 3. While driving at speed, profile switching works seamlessly, and navigation persists through the switch. He notes Tesla shouldn’t necessarily be the benchmark for privacy practices, but the capability gap is real for customers switching from Tesla to Lucid.

Lucid explained the difference comes down to operating systems. Tesla uses Linux with a Tesla-designed interface. Lucid uses Android, where certain customizations are more difficult to implement. Fenske doesn’t expect profile switching while driving to arrive anytime soon, if ever.

Fenske’s Verdict: Keeping the Car, For Now

Fenske plans to keep the Lucid through his three-year lease. At lease end, he’ll either buy it out or return it, depending on how the car has improved. Currently, he leans toward returning it.

He doesn’t regret the purchase. He bought the car because he thought Lucid’s engineering was clever, the same reason he bought his GR Corolla and Ford Maverick. But recommending the Lucid in its current state? “Absolutely” difficult, he says.

Just recently, the trunk button, frunk button, and phone app all stopped working simultaneously, forcing him to close compartments manually. “This car has a lot of problems. Painfully frustrating problems.”

But Fenske remains cautiously optimistic: “Lucid has had an organizational shakeup, and it really does seem like they’re working to make this car great. I really do hope they succeed.”

EVXL’s Take

I’ve been covering Lucid’s quality struggles for months, from the lease-end billing controversy to Fenske’s original 25-problem breakdown. This response video is the most transparent automaker communication I’ve seen in years.

Here’s what matters for owners and buyers:

The V2H announcement is genuinely significant. Ford’s F-150 Lightning requires the expensive Sunrun or similar home inverter installation that can cost $3,000 to $6,000 on top of the charger. If Lucid’s in-car DC-to-AC conversion actually delivers 17 kW peak with just a panel connection kit, that’s a meaningful competitive advantage. I expect the kit to cost $1,500 to $2,500, making it the most affordable V2H solution from a major automaker.

The UX 3.0 eligibility cutoff of April 2024 is worth noting. If you’re considering a used Lucid Air, verify the build date. Cars from before April 2024 will require the $950 processor upgrade to get the new interface. That’s a factor in used car pricing that most buyers won’t think about.

What concerns me is the profile switching situation. Lucid’s claim that competitors have similar limitations is demonstrably false, as Fenske proved with the Tesla. The Android-versus-Linux explanation sounds like a technical limitation that should have been considered before platform selection. This suggests deeper architectural decisions that will continue to constrain Lucid’s software flexibility.

The organizational shakeup putting a powertrain engineer in charge of software is either brilliant or desperate. Dala clearly understands hardware excellence. Whether that translates to software UX is an open question. Fall 2026 is 20 months away. That’s a long time for Lucid owners to wait for a fix, and a long time for prospective buyers to shop elsewhere.

My prediction: UX 3.0 will ship late, probably Q4 2026 or Q1 2027. The V2H kit will launch on time because it’s hardware, which Lucid actually does well. And the Gravity will sell better than the Air because it’s starting fresh with the lessons learned from four years of Air ownership complaints.

For prospective Lucid buyers, the calculus just got more complicated. Wait for UX 3.0 and buy in late 2026? Buy now at lower prices and pay $950 for the upgrade if your car doesn’t qualify? Or skip the Air entirely and wait for the Gravity?

What would you do? Let us know in the comments.